Keith Morrison of Dateline NBC is investigating a new generation of the Pink Panthers, the notorious band of jewel thieves responsible for a series of high-profile, international robberies worth about US$500 million. They are so clever and successful that their most glamorous heists (Harry Winston in Paris!) are featured in the documentary Smash & Grab
No one knows exactly how many Pink Panthers exist but the network is expected to have at least 60 members. Many come from Serbia and Montenegro. A few Pink Panthers have been arrested and sent to jail but many are able to escape prison. In 2012, Olivera Vasić Ćirković escaped from an Athens prison by knocking out a guard and stealing her keys. In 2013, Milan Poparic escaped from a Swiss prison with the help of some outside friends who broke through the perimeter fence. Morrison’s report will air on Dateline NBC on Sunday, April 19 at 7pm.
